Registry punch



' p 1965 J. w. BRADLEY REGISTRY PUNCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 20, 1962 lNVENTOR Jkmw M firaddey BY QQ =.,1ll TORNEYS Sept. 21, 1965 J. w.. BRADLEY REGISTRY PUNCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 20, 1962 1| Lill 1| |||||1 1 I l I l l I I I l I INVENTOR JZ/mas Mfiraaf/qy J. W. BRADLEY REGISTRY PUNCH Sept. 21, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 20, 1962 United States Patent M 3,207,021 REGISTRY PUNCH James W. Bradley, 1185 Oakdale Road, Atlanta, Ga. Filed Aug. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 218,045 4 Claims. (Cl. 83-520) This invention pertains to punches and more particularly to punches for punching a plurality of film negatives or positives in perfect registration.

A purpose of the invention is to obtain precise registration of a plurality of film negatives or positives.

A further purpose is to provide for punching a plurality of film negatives or positives wherein the punch holes provide accurate reference points for perfect registration of the film negatives or positives.

Another purpose is to provide for registration of a plurality of negatives or positives by the manual registration of a film to be punched with a pilot film.

A further purpose is to individually punch a plurality of films in perfect registration.

A further purpose is to provide a perfect registry of a plurality of negatives by registering together two negatives at a time by manual dexterity and inspection.

A further purpose is to obtain precise registry of a plurality of negatives with a punch which advances, punches an individual negative, and then retracts.

A further purpose is to provide a punch having punch heads which are movable to a plurality of positions.

A further purpose is to provide a punch wherein the punch heads are activated in unison by means of a common cam.

A further purpose is to provide a punch which has a punch head mechanism which can be moved out of position while positioning and registering the film that is to be punched on the punch table.

A further purpose is to provide a punch which is activated from the bottom upwards to the film or membrane.

A further purpose is to provide a punch in which each of the plurality of films is punched in exact registry with the first or pilot film. I

A further purpose is to always punch againts the die, using the pilot film only for registration with the punch passing through the holes in the pilot film to punch against the die.

A further purpose is to support film negatives or positives in a level position between and outside the punch heads.

A further purpose is to prevent the film negatives or positives from sagging between and beyond the punch eads.

In the drawings I have chosen to illustrate one only of the numerous embodiments in which my invention may appear, selecting the form shown from the standpoints of convenience in illustration, satisfactory operation and clear demonstration of the principles involved.

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the device of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the device of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 showing the punch retracted.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged section taken on the line 77 of FIGURE 2.

In the graphic arts, the electronics, the data processing,

32%1321 Patented Sept. 21, 1965 and the printed circuits industries among others, there is a necessity for positioning two or more elements in exact and precise registry, one with another, in order that the resultant product of these components form an integrated composite in exact superposition or juxtaposition. This is normally achieved by skilled craftsmen through manual dexterity and inspection at each stage of the registration process.

In recent times, the use of prepunched elements have to some extent made registration automatic and certain by assembling these prepunched elements on pins or dowels haivng an outside diameter exactly equal to the inside diameter of the punched holes. This procedure, however, has been very limited because of the absence of a punching device which would permit a multiplicity of elements to be accurately punched while in precise registry.

Many methods have been advanced for the purpose of punching elements in precise registry for use in such pin system of automatic registration, but up to now the only successful system has been to prepunch the unexposed film, position it on pins before exposure to light, and expose successively each film necessary to make the final multi-unit without the slightest shift or movement of either the original copy, the optical system, or the film being exposed. Only the most rigid and expensive cameras and projectors suffice for this procedure.

In an alternative method, efforts have been made to stack the exposed negatives or positives in registration and then punch the stack. It is quite easy for a craftsman to position one negative or positive over another negative or positive in accurate register. However, when an attempt is made to register by inspection a third negative or positive with this dual sandwich, the task becomes very difficult, time consuming, and hazardously uncertain. To register a fourth element through this tri-sandwich with certainty is almost impossible. Even where the positive or negative elements have been successfully registered together and taped or glued at their edges, any attempt to punch the resultant sandwich as a unit in most instances caused shifting or skewing out of exact registration. Hence, this method has been avoided.

The present invention eliminates all the prior hazards and makes exact and precise punched register of any number of elements simple and certain.

In the present invention, a pilot positive or negative is punched and all subsequent punching operations on the remaining positive or negative elements of a set are individually registered, one at a time, with the pilot negative or positive and punched by passing the punch through the positive or negative.

Describing in illustration but not in limitation and referring to the drawings:

A main frame 20 has suitably four legs 21 which rest on a base 22 such as an illuminated table top or the like. A horizontal portion of the frame 20 consists of side beams 23 and transverse beams 24. These transverse and side beams suitably form a support for a transparent or semi-transparent rigid surface 25. The transparent surface 25 rests in recesses in the transverse and side beams and is held in a fixed position.

Suitable lights (not shown) are positioned below the transparent plate so that the surface can be illuminated to any desired intensity.

Fine hair lines 26 are scribed in the surface 25 at graduated intervals and extend suitably at right angles to one another to form a coordinate grid. The lines are parallel to the side beams 23 and the transverse beams 24.

Housings 30, suitably four, are "bolted to the side beams 23, two at each side. One of the housings 30 on each side is at a corner or front end of the beam- '31, while the other housing is positioned at an approximate mid-position 32. The housings 30 journal linear bearings 33 which receive main shafts 34 and 35. These main shafts 34 and 35 slide longitudinally in the bearings 33.

An indent lock 36 is mounted in the side beams 23 at 37 and 38 and comprises a spring biased ball 40, a helical spring 41, and a housing 42. The main shafts 34 and 35 have in-dents 43 which receive the ball 40. The main shafts 34 and 35 are longitudinally held in the punching position with respect to the frame 20 by the indent lock 36.

A main support 44 is secured to the main shaft 34,

and a main support 45 is secured to the main shaft 35, as by bolting or the like. An index cross bar 46 extends transverse to the main shafts 34 and 35 and is fixably mounted in the supports 44 and 45. The index cross bar 46 carries a series of indents 47 at graduated intervals.

, A support surface 50 which is suitably integral with the frame 20, but which may be a separate element fixed to the front of the frame 20 by bolting or the like, has a series of extending fingers 51 which extend with an upper surface in the same plane as the upper surface of the transparent plate 25. The fingers form supports which extend entirely across the front of the frame. The fingers 51 support the overhanging ends of the film positives or negatives to be punched in a level position with the punch throats as will be later seen. The fingers 51 keep the film positives or negatives from sagging.

A cam 53 is journalled in the supports 44 and 45 at 54 and 55 and is free to rotate about its longitudinal axis. The cam has a lever 56 extending at right angles thereto and is adapted to rotate the cam about its axis since the lever 46 is composed of a straight portion 57, a curved portion 58 and a straight portion 60 extending normally to the portion 57. A knob 61 is threaded on the straight portion 60 and acts as a suitable handle.

Journalled on and longitudinally slidable with respect to the index cross bar 46. are the punch heads 62 best seen in FIGURES 4 and 5. The punch heads have a body portion 63 comprising a base portion 64 and an armportion 65. The base has a circular opening 66 which receives the index cross arm 46. A longitudinal circular opening 67 extends from the front face of the punch head to the opening 66 carrying the index cross bar. A ball 68 is biased inwardly by a helical spring 70 held by retainer 71 suitably fixed to the punch head. A thumb screw 72 extends through retainer 71 and engages thereon with threads in the retainer. A head 73 on thumb screw 72 is adapted to bear against the ball 68.

The punch head has a cylindrical opening 74 which carries punch 75 comprising a follower 76 and a punch end 77. The punch end 77 engages in one position with die opening 78 in arm 65. A suitable bushing 80 lines the interior of the die opennig. A bushing 81 acts to guide punch 75 in the body portion and also serves as a retainer for the helical spring 83.

In operation, the entire sliding portion comprising the main shafts 34 and 35, the main supports 44 and 45, along with the index cross bar 46, and the cam 53, along with the punch heads 62, is pulled to a forwardmost position with respect to frame 20 by exerting pressure to overcome the indent lock 36. While the punch heads and supporting structure is in the forwardmost position-as shown in phantom in FIGURE 1, a pilot element 91 is positioned by means of alignment with the central lines and cross lines 26. The pilot element 91 is taped to the surface 25 by strips 90. The fingers 51 support the overhanging end of the pilot element 91 in the area to be punched, so that the pilot element 91 lies entirely in a flat plane with no sagging.

The punch structure, including the punch heads, supports, and the punch mechanism is then pushed into the position shown in solid lines shown in FIGURE 1. In this position, the film or membrane extends into the throat in 83' and the lever 56 is in a downward position as shown in FIGURE 5 so that the cam 53 allows the punch 75 to be fully retracted under the influence of the helical spring 83. The main shafts 34 and 35 are supported by bearings 33 and are fixed longitudinally by engagement of the ball 40 in indent lock 36 engaging in indent 43 which is so positioned that when the ball 40' is in indent 43, the punch mechanism is at a suitable position.

It is first determined at what transverse position the punch head 62 should be in order to achieve the desired punch spacing in the film or membrane. An adjustment of the punch head 62 is made by turning thumb screw 7 72 so that the head 73 of the screw backs olf entire ly from ball 68 and allows the ball to retract against the pressure of helical spring 70. A force is then exerted on the punch head to move the head 62 transversely to a desired position. This position can 'be any one of the positions wherein an indent 47 on the indent cross bar 46 exists- The indent-s 47 are aligned with the openings 52 between the fingers 51 so that the punching will take place between the fingers 51 supporting the film. The ball 68 will position the punch head 62 as it moves forward under the influence of the spring 70 and the head 62 can be locked in this position by turning the thumb screw 72 to move the head 73 into lock-ing position against the ball 68. a

The operating lever 56 is then brought forward from the position of FIGURE 5 into the position of FIGURE 4 so that the cam 53 acts against the follower 76 and moves the punch through throat -83 into die opening 78. The film or membrane 91 which will act as the pilot film or membrane is punched at the punch head location.

- ment 91 and taped in this registered position by strips 93. The sliding portion is then again moved forward until indent lock 36 engages indent 43 on the main shafts which is the position shown in solid in FIGURES 1 and 2. The punch is activated by swinging the lever 56 into a position of FIGURE 4. The punch 75 is then retracted and the sliding portion is retracted into the non-punch position shown in dotted lines in FIGURES 1 and 2. The second or top film 92 is then removed from the punch surface leaving the first or pilot element 91 still taped in its original undisturbed position. A third element is then registered with the original pilot element 91 and taped into position. The punch mechanism is again brought into the punch position by sliding the main shaft through the bearings until the indent lock 36 engage with the indent 43. The lever 56 carrying the cam is swung to carry a punch through the membranes and then retract it.

This procedure is repeated for as many elements as constitute the final requirements.

In view of my invention and disclosure, variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain all or .part of the benefits of my invention without copying the method and structure shown,

' and. I, therefore, claim all such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for punching reference holes in a plurality of films in precise register with respect to the images of said films, comprising,

5 a frame, a generally transparent top for said frame, film support means fixed on the frame and extending beyond one edge of said top and having a series of spaced fingers extending in the plane of the upper surface of said transparent top and adapted to support the overhanging ends of the films,

longitudinal :slidable means on the frame and adapted to slide longit-udinally thereto and having main shafts jou-rnalled in the frame and a cros bar connecting the main shafts,

a plurality of spaceabtle unit punch and die heads of a size approximately equal to the spacing between the fingers of the film support means slidably mounted on the cross bar,

means for selectively positioning the punch and die heads with respect to the cross bar,

and means for selectively positioning the longitudinal slidable means with respect to the frame whereby in one position the punch and die heads extend clear of the film support means and in another position the punch and die heads extend between the spaced fingers ot the film support means.

2. A device of claim 1, in which the punches are located below the plane of the top and the dies are located above the plane of the top, whereby the film is punched against the die.

3. A device of claim 1, in combination with cam means extending from one punch and die head to another for activating the punches in unison in any one of a selected number of different spacings.

4. A device of claim 1, having coordinate grid lines on the transparent top.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,712,269 5/29 Hanauer 83-33 2,131,359 9/38 Seffzig 83-33 2,295,903 9/42 Kennedy 83-520 2,307,617 1/43 Braun 83-33 2,431,528 11/47 Wells 83-563 2,444,723 7/48 Bowen 83-520 2,482,218 9/49 Segal 83-560 2,494,836 1/50 Segal 83-618 2,588,087 3/52 Connor 83-520 2,613,744 10/52 Hillme-r 83-520 2,745,186 5/56 Faeber 83-52-2 2,781,096 2/57 G-arity 83-451 3,088,357 5/63 Styner 83-520 ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR PUNCHING REFERENCE HOLES IN A PLURALITY OF FILMS IN PRECISE REGISTER WITH RESPECT TO THE IMAGES OF SAID FILMS, COMPRISING, A FRAME, A GENERALLY TRANSPARENT TOP FOR SAID FRAME, FILM SUPPORT MEANS FIXED ON THE FRAME AND EXTENDING BEYOND ONE EDGE OF SAID TOP AND HAVING A SERIES OF SPACED FINGERS EXTENDING IN THE PLANE OF THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID TRANSPARENT TOP AND ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THE OVERHANGING ENDS OF THE FILMS, LONGITUDINAL SLIDABLE MEANS ON THE FRAME AND ADAPTED TO SLIDE LONGITUDINALLY THERETO AND HAVING MAIN SHAFTS JOURNALLED IN THE FRAME AND A CROSS BAR CONNECTING THE MAIN SHAFTS, A PLURALITY OF SPACEBLE UNIT PUNCH AND DIE HEADS OF A SIZE APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO THE SPACING BETWEEN THE FINGERS OF THE FILM SUPPORT MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON THE CROSS BAR, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY POSITIONING THE PUNCH AND DIE HEADS WITH RESPECT TO THE CROSS BAR, AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY POSITIONING THE LONGITUDINAL SLIDABLE MEANS WITH RESPECT TO THE FRAME WHEREBY IN ONE POSITION THE PUNCH AND DIE HEADS EXTEND CLEAR OF THE FILM SUPPORT MEANS AND IN ANOTHER POSITION FINGERS OF THE FILM SUPPORT MEANS. 